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Institutional Level Subject Grading Descriptors (ILSGD) - Draft to be approved

PolyU currently adopts the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) as an institutional strategy to enhance and assure the quality of programmes and outcomes.The university also adopts the criterion-referenced grading system for all assessment. An Insitutional Level Subject Grade Descriptor (ILSGD), as below, has been established to guide the marking process and clarify expectations for students. The standards to be achieved for each grade should be well aligned between the ILSGD with other levels of grade descriptors and rubrics to ensure grading integrity.

Assessment grades shall be awarded on a criterion-referenced basis. A student’s overall performance in a subject shall be graded as follows:

Grades

Short description

Elaboration on subject grading description

A

Excellent

Demonstrates excellent achievement of intended subject learning outcomes by being able to skillfully use concepts and solve complex problems. Shows evidence of innovative and critical thinking in unfamiliar situations, and is able to express the synthesis or application of ideas in a logical and comprehensive manner.

B

Good

Demonstrates good achievement of intended subject learning outcomes by being able to use appropriate concepts, and solve problems. Shows the ability to analyze issues critically and make well-grounded judgements in familiar or standard situations, and is able to express the synthesis or application of ideas in a logical and comprehensive manner.

C

Satisfactory

Demonstrates satisfactory achievement of intended subject learning outcomes by being able to solve relatively simple problems. Shows some capacity for analysis and making judgements in a variety of familiar and standard situations, and is able to express the synthesis or application of ideas in a manner that is generally logical but fragmented.

D

Marginal Pass

Demonstrates marginal achievement of intended subject learning outcomes by being able to solve relatively simple problems. Can make basic comparisons, connections and judgments and express the ideas learnt in the subject, though there are frequent breakdowns in logic and clarity.

F

Fail

Demonstrates inadequate achievement of intended learning outcomes through a lack of knowledge and/or understanding of the subject matter. Evidence of analysis is often irrelevant or incomplete.

Note 1:  Marking rubrics aligned with these Grade Descriptors need not include all aspects of the grade descriptor. 

Note 2:  Marking rubrics aligned with these Grade Descriptors may include other aspects aligned with particular subject matter or field of study requirements but are not included in the grade descriptor.
 

Marking rubrics aligned with these Grade Descriptors may take one of three suggested forms:

  1. Holistic marking rubrics
  2. Analytic marking rubrics
  3. Item structure marking rubrics

The holistic and analytic rubrics may be appropriate to assessment items asking for open ended responses such as essays, research reports, oral presentations, capstone reports, etc. – qualitative responses.

The item structure rubric may be appropriate to assessment items composed of parts of increasing complexity such as more quantitative items, with each part aligned with the marking rubric descriptor – quantitative responses.

 

Indicative Descriptors for Modifier Grades (too be added to the ISLGD if modifier grades are adopted)

Principle: The overall grade should represent the student’s typical level of performance.

Logic: Decide the main grade first, and then apply the modifiers as appropriate.

Grade Descriptors

Main Grade (solid)              

The student generally performed at this level, indicating mastery of the subject intended learning outcomes at this level.

+ (exemplary)

The student consistently performed at this level and exceeded the expectations of this level in some regards, but not enough to claim mastery at the next level.

-  (marginal)

The student basically performed at this level, but the performance was inconsistent or fell slightly short in some regards.

Note: The above are “indicative descriptors” only and grading will be made based on the academic and professional judgement of the assessors.